The Galen Institute hosted a Congressional staff briefing on "Weighing the Benefits of Specialty Hospitals" on July 20, 2005. Six experts explored the arguments for and against the moratorium on specialty hospitals. Materials from the briefing include: The agenda. Senator Tom Coburn's bio. Regina Herzlinger's bio. Professor Herzlinger has prepared a paper, but it is still in draft … [Read more...] about Weighing the Benefits of Specialty Hospitals
Setting Priorities
The New York Times published a blockbuster series of articles this week, exposing the astonishing corruption in New York State's Medicaid program. Some highlights: A Brooklyn dentist -- who has since been indicted -- billed for 991 fillings, cleanings, and other dental procedures in one day in 2003, costing Medicaid a total of $63,967. Her total Medicaid take that year: $5.4 million. The state … [Read more...] about Setting Priorities
Weighing the Benefits of Specialty Hospitals
The Galen Institute hosted a Congressional staff briefing on "Weighing the Benefits of Specialty Hospitals" on July 20, 2005. Six experts explored the arguments for and against the moratorium on specialty hospitals. Materials from the briefing include: The agenda. Senator Tom Coburn's bio. Regina Herzlinger's bio. Professor Herzlinger has prepared a paper, but it is … [Read more...] about Weighing the Benefits of Specialty Hospitals
New Options
The Senate next week plans to debate federal funding for stem cell research. The science is evolving in a way that should make this controversy moot. One side argues that research on viable human embryos has the greatest medical potential and that destroying the embryo is a price worth paying. The other says that adult stem cells and umbilical cord cells already have demonstrated much more success … [Read more...] about New Options
Medicaid Commission
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced on Friday the members of the Medicaid advisory commission charged with identifying reforms necessary to stabilize and strengthen Medicaid. I am honored to have been among those selected to serve with so many distinguished health policy experts. "In Washington and state capitols across America, there is consensus that now is the time to reform and modernize … [Read more...] about Medicaid Commission
Ceasefire
Former Sen. John Breaux was a valuable consensus builder during his more than three decades in Congress, working with Republicans and his fellow Democrats to provide leadership in actually getting things done. Now, after retiring last year to move into private life, he is bringing his skills to a new project he's creating called "Ceasefire on Health Care: Finding Common Ground for the … [Read more...] about Ceasefire
NHS Surgeon Resigns
Dear Mr Coles, For years now, I have been stopped from doing my job in the NHS by the lack of facilities, but in public the politicians (in particular Alan Milburn and John Reid) have blamed the consultants for the waiting lists. This is extremely demotivating and demoralizing. It seems the Government thinks that if only they could get the consultants in the NHS to work harder, then … [Read more...] about NHS Surgeon Resigns
NHS Surgeon Resigns
Dear Mr Coles, For years now, I have been stopped from doing my job in the NHS by the lack of facilities, but in public the politicians (in particular Alan Milburn and John Reid) have blamed the consultants for the waiting lists. This is extremely demotivating and demoralizing. It seems the Government thinks that if only they could get the consultants in the NHS to work harder, then … [Read more...] about NHS Surgeon Resigns